ERBA Diagnostics Mannheim, GmbH (Erba), a 100 percent subsidiary of
Transasia Bio-Medicals Ltd., (Transasia) - India’s leading IVD Company and
a recipient of various prestigious National and State level awards acquired
a 100 percent stake in Diasis Diagnostik Sistemler Ticaret Ve Sanayi A.S.
[Diasis Diagnostic Systems], a reputed company in the field of IVD, headquartered in Istanbul, Turkey. This is the third international acquisition by
Erba Diagnostics Mannheim GmbH in a short span of about 16 months. The
first being that of a European IVD company, PLIVA-Lachema Diagnostika,
s.r.o. [Lachema] based at Czech Republic having a subsidiary in Russia. The
Group already has its presence in over 50 countries through its Distribution
and Marketing network. Besides that, Erba-Transasia Group has business alliances with leading IVD companies in the world. Diasis Diagnostic Systems,
established in 1993 is involved in the development, production and marketing
of products for In Vitro Diagnostics in the field of Biochemistry, Haematology and Urine analysis. It is an ISO 9001/2000 and ISO 13485/2003 certified
company and by using its strength in In-House R & D, it has successfully
developed over 40 different reagents for Clinical Chemistry and ISE. Besides
enjoying a good reputation and market presence in Turkey over the past 17
years, Diasis Diagnostic Systems has also established an export division which
exports its manufactured reagents to several countries including Greece,
Bulgaria, Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, Korea etc. “We regard the acquisition
by Erba as a great opportunity for Diasis Diagnostic Systems to aggressively
promote the full range of Erba and DDS products in Turkey, Iran, Syria, Azerbaijan”, according to Ruchan Ozatay, Director of Diasis Diagnostic Systems.

As Noval
methods of
blood glucose
monitoring
and evaluation
have enabled
treatment
adjustments that would not have been made on
the basis of intermittent finger prick readings, thus
dramatically improving the quality of the lives of
millions of diabetics around the world. Unlike
standard monitoring of blood glucose level up to a
maximum four times a day, CGMS monitors and
records blood glucose levels 288 times in a day for
3 continuous days. This device is very convenient
to use. The CGMS is typically inserted in the abdominal area and worn by the patient three days as
they go about their normal activities like exercise,
swimming etc. These devices are particularly useful
for children with type 1 diabetes, pregnant women
with diabetes, and for patient with long standing
diabetes who do not get warning symptoms of low
blood glucose.

Technology

International

First Genetic Test for IVF Success

Action Plan to Halt Malaria Drug
Resistance

Scientists have developed
the first genetic blood test
for predicting the chances
that in vitro fertilization
(IVF) will lead to a successful
pregnancy. The test is based
on the finding that different
subtypes of the FMR1 gene in potential mothers are associated with
significantly different chances of conceiving with IVF. This is the
first evidence that a specific gene appears to be directly associated
with IVF outcomes. The study result says that the FMR1 gene, some
forms of which are known to predict premature ovarian failure,
could be used to predict at what age a woman’s fertility is going to
start decreasing. Women with the “normal” FMR1 genotype had a
38.6 percent pregnancy rate; those with the “heterozygous-normal/
high” genotype had a 31.7 percent pregnancy rate; and women
found to have the “heterozygous-normal/low” genotype had a 22.2
percent pregnancy rate.

46

> www.ehealthonline.org > February 2011

The United Nations health agency launched a new action plan
to halt the spread of resistance to artemisinin, the world’s most
potent treatment for malaria, warning that the tremendous
gains made in recent years against the disease are under threat.
Launched by the UN World Health Organisation (WHO) and
the Roll Back Malaria Partnership (RBM), the plan outlines actions to contain and prevent resistance to artemisinins, which
are the critical component of artemisinin-based combination
therapies (ACTs), the most potent weapon in treating falciparum malaria, the deadliest form of the disease. Resistance to
artemisinins has already emerged in areas on the CambodiaThailand border, according to WHO, which warns that if these
treatments fail, many countries will have nothing to fall back
on. The Global Plan aims to prevent artemisinin resistance by
stopping the spread of resistant parasites, increase monitoring
and surveillance for artemisinin resistance.